Two Men Arrested for Smuggling Illegal Chinese Migrants in Tak

Picture courtesy of Naewna.

Two Thai men have been arrested by highway police under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) for illegally transporting four undocumented Chinese nationals through Tak province. The suspects reportedly admitted to receiving 6,000 baht per migrant for the job.

The operation was carried out under the direction of Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Bhuridej, Commissioner of the CIB, with direct orders passed to Police Major General Khongkrit Lertsittikul, Commander of the Highway Police Division. The arrest team was led by Police Colonel Saathit Samanphap and Police Lieutenant Colonel Korakrit Ngamwongwan.

The two suspects, identified as Mr Chor 42 and Mr Pitak 42, were apprehended on Highway 12, between kilometre markers 114 and 115, in Mueang District, Tak Province. Officers discovered four Chinese men, aged between 28 and 40, in the rear passenger seats of a grey Mitsubishi pickup truck driven by Mr Chor. None of the men had passports or any valid identification documents.

The arrests followed a tip-off from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, which warned that two suspicious pickup trucks were travelling along the inbound section of Highway 12 between Sukhothai and Tak. The highway police set up a checkpoint and stopped both vehicles for inspection.

The second vehicle, a black Toyota pickup, was driven by Mr Pitak. Upon questioning, it emerged that he had instructed Mr Chor to pick up the Chinese nationals from a roadside location in Long District, Phrae Province and deliver them to Tak.

During interrogation, both suspects confessed that they had been hired by a man known only as “Mr Ton,” whose full identity remains unknown. Mr Pitak acted as a scout, driving ahead to monitor for police checkpoints. The men also admitted it was their second time smuggling illegal migrants.

Both suspects have been charged with knowingly assisting and concealing illegal immigrants to evade arrest. The four Chinese nationals have been charged with entering and residing in Thailand without legal authorisation. All individuals and related evidence were handed over to investigators at Wang Prachop Police Station in Tak Province for legal proceedings.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-07-07